I prefer cash, but take checks. Someday I will get ripped off. It is easy to stop payment on a check, and once they have the dog, you will have to go to court and fight about the money. Once that happens, I will probably be ok with a check for the deposit and then ask for cash for the remainder. People used to hold the papers until the check cleared, but the AKC says the papers go with the dog. So, bring cash and everyone is happy. The deposit usually happens weeks before the pups are ready to go, so by the time the pup goes home, the breeder knows whether or not the check cleared.

I do not see it as a red flag.

I would see it as a red flag if they waived the sales tax if you pay cash. That does make it sound like they are not going to report the sale. Shady people are rarely shady in only one circumstance. If they will cheat the government, they will cheat you.

Sales tax would only apply for in state purchases. If the buyer lives in a different state than the breeder, no sales tax would apply. Also in some states, the sale of livestock is exempt from sales tax, and in some of those dogs are viewed as livestock for tax purposes so would also be exempt. In other states, dogs are viewed as other commercial items and sales tax would apply. So whether tax should have been charged or not depends on the state's tax rules and whether the buyer lives in the same state or not. I believe some states would also have different rules for out of state purchases based on whether the buyer picked up the pup at the breeder's (thus the sale occurred in state) versus had the pup shipped.

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That's probably not too unusual. I'm sure every breeder has been "stung" at one time or another by a bad check. We ask that the prospective "parent" pay with a certified check - it, for all intents & purposes, is cash. This protects the breeder and the buyer as well.

Tax fraud is so common these days, I honestly wouldn't see it as any sort of a red flag as to the type or quality of breeder they were.

Committing any sort of fraud says something about the person's character. It's not like being unable to pay, or behind in payments, it is a deliberate attempt to get out of paying for something that others do have to pay for by lying or cheating. If they will do that, they are probably lying or cheating about many things. They may be cutting corners in other ways. No way would I support them by buying a puppy from them.

Committing any sort of fraud says something about the person's character. It's not like being unable to pay, or behind in payments, it is a deliberate attempt to get out of paying for something that others do have to pay for by lying or cheating. If they will do that, they are probably lying or cheating about many things. They may be cutting corners in other ways. No way would I support them by buying a puppy from them.

I guess I don't agree.

It feels like half of the people I know commit tax fraud in some way, but I know they're not cheating me out of anything or lying to me.

A boss of mine doesn't have a payroll system, she just writes us checks as independent contractors. She told me when she gave me my first check that she wasn't taking taxes out and certainly wasn't going to tell me I had to! Said it's my own business whether or not I file. She's a sweet lady though and certainly hasn't ever that I've witnessed lie or cheat anyone out of anything.

eta; no one is perfect anymore. I don't judge people that harshly that do these sorts of things. Maybe it's the way I was raised? I don't have the most saint of parents...

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